Imagine Galleon Together

What is this about? 

Galleon Arts Centre in Barking was built in 1987. It was refurbished in 2021 but closed in 2023 after the organisation that managed it ceased trading. It partially reopened in 2024 with activities and events organised by a freelance team. 

London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and Arts Council England want to support a future for Galleon Arts Centre as a community resource that is shaped by local people. In 2025, they appointed a team, led by Creative Barking and Dagenham and supported by Citizens In Power to create a citizens’ panel to lead the next steps and create a plan for the future. 

A Citizens' Panel

Local residents were invited to take part in a citizens’ panel to shape the future of Galleon Arts Centre. The panel was selected by a civic lottery to reflect the community. It worked together over two days in June 2025 and its vision forms a plan for Galleon to shape its future activities and fundraising.

Timeline

• May 2025 Citizens’ panel selection

• June 2025 Panel meets for two days to shape the plan

• July 2025 + Fundraising and securing support for the plan

Jargon-Buster

• Citizens – People who live, work, or stay in Barking and Dagenham (everyone!)

• Citizens’ Panel – A group of local people who work together to shape decisions

• Civic Lottery – A way of selecting people at random to make a representative panel

For more information visit the Creative Barking and Dagenham site.